Multiple-spindle machine.



Patented May18, 1909. 7 SHEBTSS] IEET l.

G. MELLI3.

MULTIPLE SPINDL B MACHINE. APPL IOATION FILED FEB. 24, 1908.

G. MELLIS. MULTIPLE SPINDLE mm. APPLICATION rmm rm. :4, 190B.

921 ,72 1. Patented May 18, 1909.-

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. MELLIS.

MULTIPLE SPINDLE MACHINE.

APPLIQATION FILED FEB. 24, 1908.

is HTS-SHEET 3.

921,721; Patented 18,1909.

G. MELLIS.

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v v 921,721, Patented May 18, 1909.

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G. MELLIS. MULTIPLE SPINDLB MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) FEB. 24, 1908. 921,721.

Paiiented May 18, 1909.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

G. MELLIS. MULTIPLE SPINDLE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

G. AELLIS. MULTIPLE SPINDLE MACHINE.

B-BHEET 7.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

cEoRd-E Minus, or LEEps, ENGLAND.

MULTIPLE-SYINIDLE Sp eeification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18', 1909.

Application filed February 24; 1908. Serial No. 417,561.

'lhis invention relates to multiple spindle machines or lathes formaking screws, bolts,

nuts and like articles its object being to provide improvements in theconstruction, op-

eration and arrangemen'tof some of the details thereof resulting inconsiderable econ- --omy in the' production, an increased accuworkcarrying spindles 2 each of which carracy and finish of the articles, alarger output and in the machine being less'f'costly to manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is an elevation of a multiplespindle machine constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of one of the work carrying spindles detached. fromthe turret head. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section-onthe line AA of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a detail of the chuckshown in Fig.2. Fig. 6 is a section on the line B-B of Fig. 5. Fig. .7is an end view of the machine partly in section on the line CC of Fig;8. Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of part of Fig. 7, the section beingtaken on the line D--D ofthat figure. front view, partly in section, oftheturret head showing the mechanism em loyed to stop rotation of theturret and -to ock it in positionfparts of the machine being removed forthe sake of clearness. Fig. 10 is a view, partly insection, of thelocking mechanism shown in Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrowshown in that figure.

of the frontend of the turret head showing the devices employed for-ocrating the chuck in the work carrying spin le and Fig.13 is a of thescrew threading present invention, that is to say there is pro:

vided a central shaft 1 driving a number of Fig. 9 is a Figs. 1 1 and 12are respectively end and side views u n by various tools supported by areciprocating tool slide 4. There are five work carr ing spindles 2(although the numaround the central shaft 1 in a turret head 5 suitablymounted in a casing 6, the turret head 5 being intermittently rotated. Acam shaft 7, conveniently disposed below the cenfrarrie, is driven bymeans of a well knoun epicychc gear 8 driving a worm shaft 9 gearmg witha worm wheel 10 on the cam shaft cam shaft may be driven at a slower orfaster speed, such periods being controlled by dogs 11 movable on a disk12 carried by the cam shaft 7 and 0 rating a belt striker.

The followlng is a brief narrative of one com lete cycle of operationperformed by a mac ine constructed according to the present inventionand designed to turn out screw threaded bolts :The turret head 5 beingone of the Work carryingspindles 2 is released, the bar is fed forwardto the full extent designed by a specially constructed de is, ifnecessary, pushed back by the forward movement of the tool slide 4 there uired distance for the particular article eing -made. The chuck isnext tightened so that the rod 3 is firmly held and rotated with therevolving work carrying spindle; 2, and the turret head 5 is artiallyrotated and again locked by'specia devices. While the work and lockedand a second cut made after is moved still further and a screw threadformed upon the work by a suitable die which is rotated in the samedirection as the Work but at a greater speed so that the difference inspeed formsthe actual speed at which the. die operates on the work. Whenthe thread is formed for a sufficient length the rotation of the die isarrested so that the thread now formed on the rotating Work will *againpartially rotated to the starting point where the finished work iscutoff from the rod and the cycle repeated. Modifications ries a separatework rod 3 to be operated.

7 so arranged that at the desired periods the locked the chuck holdingthe work rod 3 in may be made in this cycle without, departing her may evaried) and they are arranged tral shaft 1, in or beneath the machinevice which then freesthe bar and the latter V rod 3 is in thi's positionthe tool slide 4 is again moved forward and a preliminary cut made. -Theturret head is again revolved which the same operation is repeated for af third and finishing cut. The turret head 5 itself remove the die. Theturret head is tsnds right through the turret head.

from the present invention such as taking only two plain cuts on thework and using two successive screw cutting dies although it ispreferred to have only one screw cutting die. Similarly if'the number ofwork carrying spindles are varied the different operacontact with thesides of the conical recess or one spring may operate them all.

15. The chuck jaws 16 are capable of longitudinal movement and are actedupon by a spring 17 tending to move them so as to loosen their grip onthe work rod. A separate spring may be provided for each fiw 1e chuck isclosed by a sliding collar 18 situated on the work carrying spindle 2outside the conical recess 15. The interiordiameter of this collar issomewhat larger at its forward edge 19 than the remainder, forming anannular recess and when the collar is in its rearmost position thisrecess comes opposite a series of holes 20 extending from the conicalrecess 15 containing the chuck 'aws and enables one or more fillets orthe li e 21 and 22 situated in each hole and having contact orconnection with the chuck jaws 16 to protrude, being forced through bythe s ring 17 moving the chuck forward. The fillets 21 are preferablyshaped as shown and may either be quite loose or pivoted together orconnected by a short lever pivoted to each.

A convenient method of keeping the fillets 21 .end of the work carryingspindle 2.

in place within the holes 26 is to provide a slot in one face thereofengaging projection or hook 23 screwed or otherwise secured to one faceof the hole 20 as indicated in Fig. 2. The fillets 22 are also shaped asshown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, being somewhat wedged shaped with roundedends. These fillets 22 are so disposed that the thicker rounded end 24bears both against the bottom of the fillet 21 and against a shoulder orthe like 25 formed all around theinner side of an annular cover plate 26screwed to the forward The fillets 22 may also either be quite loose orattached to a carrying ring 27 by means of screws 28 passing throughholes in the fillets 22 of the form shown in Fig. 6 and engaging withthe ring 27. The method of attaching the fillets 21 and 22 is thus suchas to facilitate the operation of assembling them in their proper placeswhile a certain amount of movement is permitted -to each fillet.

The arrangement of parts constituting the chuck and the means foroperating it is 4 thus such that when the collar 18 is moved thismovement is "communicated by the. fillets 22 to each of the chuck aws 16Which are thereby moved against the action of the spring 17 to closecontact with the work rod 3. Similarly movement of the collar 18 in. theopposite direction enables the spring 17 Y to move the. chuck jaws 16forward, theiillets 21 protruding into the recess inside the collar 18.

-An annular recess 30 is formed in the outside of each of the collars 18above mentioned and an arm or projection 31 on ,a longitudinally movableplunger or rod 32is capable of successively engaging with these recessesas the turret head 5 is rotated (Figs. 1 1 and 12). The plunger iscarried in suitable bearings 33 on the turret casing 6 and a lever 34pivoted at 35 to the frame has a projection or pin 36 engaging a slot 37in the plunger 32. The lever is arranged at approximately right anglesto the plunger and at the required distance from its ivot is operatedupon by cam disks or the li e 38 on the cam shaft 7 to move it backwardand forward (pendulumlike) about its pivot 35. It will be appreci atedthat this movement of the'lever reciprocates the plunger 32' and somoves the collar 18 operating the work rod chuck.

Inside each work carrying spindle 2 and embracing the work rod 3 thereinthere is an interior sleeve 39 (Fig. 2) rojecting at the rear of theturret head 5. it this end of the sleeve there is situated a disk 40(Figs. 1 and 7) ca .able of engagement, on the rotation of th formedsegmental recess 41 in a sliding member 42- Which is mounted in anydesired manner on the frame of the machine and is reciprocated by a cam43 011 the can: shaft 7. If desired the recess may-"consist of acirculargroove in the sleeve and the projection be.

situated on the sliding member. Thus means are provided forlongitudinally mov ing the sleeve 39 in each work carrying spindleReferring again to Fig. 2, at or near its forward end each sleeve 39 maybe provided with a bearing 44 upon the spindle 2 and at this part eachSlBGYB'lS providedwith a num-' ber of circumferential holes 45. In eachhole there is pivoted at 46 a special gripping piece 47 so shaped thatwhen the sleeve is movedforward the inner ends of each gripping piece 47obtain a frictional grip upon e turret head, with a suitablythe barforward and not backward. The

the latter come into contact with aprojection or shoulder 48 on theinterior of. the

work carrying spindle2 which causes them i to' be sufficiently movedabout their pivots to release their grip on the work rod which may thenbe moved backward by the tool slide 4 or by other means if it is notdesired to make the article of the full length to which the rod has beenadvanced. The gripping pieces maybe spring controlled if desired as l5shown at49.

The partial rotation of the turrethead 5 at the desired intervals iseffected as follows Apinion 50 (Figs. 7 and 8) is loosely mounted on thecam shaft 7 at the rear of the machine and is connected by a suitabletrain of gearing 51 to a circular rack 52 attached outside the turrethead 5. In the outer face of the loose pinion 50 there is formed anannular concentric recess 53 in which there is situated a divided springring 54, preferably flush with the outer face of the pinion. A disk orwheel 55 is keyed to the cam shaft 7 adjacent to the loose pinion and abolt or pin 56 passes through a hole therein and has one end be- Thisbolt. or inj56 is so sha d as to that part which is etween the en s ofthe spring ring as to form a cam member 57 having varied transversedimensions and is round as to that part. which fits the hole in the disk55 keyed to the shaft. Beyond this wheel 55 the'pin-56 has'ri idlyconnected to it a projecting arm 58 a apted to come into contact withafixed segmental cam piece 59 concentrio with the cam shaft 7 secured tothe frame of the machine in such a-position that when the arm 58 comesinto contact therewith the pin 56 is sufficiently rotated to expand thespring ring 54'and so look the loose pinion 50 to the fixed wheel 55 onthe cam shaft, the result bein that while the arm 58 is in contact witht fixed segmental cam piece 59 the turret head 5 will be rotated. Hencethey length of the segmental cam pieee' 59governs the amount of rotationof the turrethead.

f The turret :head 5 is also provided with a number of recesses 60 (Fig.9) in, or'steps or brackets on, its outer face corresponding to thenumber of work carrying spindles. A lever 61 is ivoted at 62 to aconvenient part of the mac e frame and is arranged to be moved into oneof the said recesses to stop the rotation of the turret head as soon asthe clutch ring .54 is loosened. The part of the 60 lever61 adjacent toits-pivot 62 isgfiat being preferably rounded at its other end 63;proecting from this end of the lever is a screw 'thread' portion64 uponwhich is screwed a nut 65 which is conveniently made cylindrical 66 withsome convenient means for rotating bolt passing through holes 71.

are preferably made of hardened steel.

tween the two. ends of the spring ring 54.

screw threads in the bolt so that slight rotation of this screw ineither direction will cause recess. 85.

it such as the holes 66 with which a suitable tool is intended toengage. The nut 65 'is provided with a reduced part 67 which is againreduced and screw threaded at 68. A split sleeve 69 embraces the part 67and is 70 clamped thereto by the nut 70 the sleeve 69 being, if desired,additionally secured by a The contact part of the recesses 60 and thesplit sleeve 69 I The lever 61 is moved to bring the sleeve 69 into therecess 66 at the desired periods by means of a cam 72 on the cam shaft 7acting upon a roller or the like 73 on the lever 61.

74 indicates a spring acting on'the lever 61 l adapted to insure thelever being removed from engagement with the recess 60 when the cam 72reaches a position to allow of. its

' withdrawal.

In order to insure the turret head being rigidly held in the exactposition required a locking device is also provided for each phase- Thelocking devices comprise a slot or'- hole 75 in the casi 6 lined withhard steel for each work spind e add a sin le hardened steel bolt 76carried in ,a suitab guideway 77 the bolt 76 being moved into each holein successionby a two-armed'lever 78- 79 one end 78 of which hasengagement with a slot in thebolt 76 and the other end 79 of whichdsoperated by a cam groove 80 in a disk .81 on the cam shaft 7. The end ofthe bolt 76 which engages the hole-is also preferably made of hardenedsteel and in order that the bolt shall always exactly fit its hole tohold the turret head 5 quite rigid the bolt end is split as shown at 82and is provided with a conical headed screw 83 situated in a hole in thesplit end and engaging corresponding the diameter of'the bolt to beaccordingly varied. The mouth of the hole in which the screw 83 issituated may be flared as shown.

The head casing 6 is provided with a bracket 84 in which there is arecess 85. An adjustable support 86 for the bolt 76 is car-. ried bythis bracket, the support being provided with a projection .87 situatedin the The support is secured to the bracket 84 by bolts 88 passingthrough slots in the support and by set screws'89 bearing on theprojection 87 in the recess 85 so that the position of the support 86may be adilusted in relation to the machine frame. 12

he guideway 77 carrying the bolt 76 is in .the support 86 and a nice fitof the bolt therein in order to hold the turret head quite rigid may beinsured by means of a set screw 90 bearing against a plate or the like91 also slot and pin connection.

on a longitudinally adjustable bracket 94 on the machine frame. A freegear wheel 95 is mounted on this shaft 93 and engages with a pinion 96of suflicient length toallow for the longitudinal movement of the shaft.This pinion 96 is keyed to a separate shaft 97 which is independentlyrotated at such a speed that when the gear wheel 95 is clutched to thedie shaft the latter will be rotated at the desired increase of speedcompared with that of the work carrying spindles 2. A slot or recess 98is formed in the die shaft, or in a boss thereon, transverse to itsaxis, and with in this recess a short two armed lever 99* 100 ispivoted, one end 100 ofwhich projects beyon the periphery of the dieshaft 93 or itsbos s. At or near this end of the lever a rod 101 isattached thereto at one end by a This rod is supported also in a guideformed through a boss or disk 102 on the die shaft adjacent to the freegear wheel 95, upon which are projections 103adapted to contact with theend of the rod 101 and so lock the wheel 95 to the die shaftwhen theparts are in the position shown in Fig, 13. The other end 99 of thelever 99-100 in the recess 98 is connected to a longitudinally movablelatch 104 in such 'a manner that movement of the lever about its pivotreciprocates the latch. This latch 104 is conveniently situated in ahole or channel longitudinal, with the axis of the die shaft,

formed in the edge of the bosscontaining the recess 98 and communicatingwith the said recess. Adjacent to this recess-98 there is formed aradial hole or the like containing a (shown in Fig. 13) the free gearwheel 95 is clutched to the die shaft 93 while the latch 104 is holdingthe spring controlled radial bolt 105 in its retracted osition. I Thedie shaft 93 is moved forward longitudinally by means of aforked lever109 en aging acollar 110 thereon (or by any other esir'ed means)operated in a suitable manner from the cam shaft 7. A circular abutment111 is situ-.

ated around the dieshaft and is'adjustable in position onthe bracket 94as indicated at' As the die shaft moves forward the projecting end.99'of the lever situated in the transverse 'slot therein comes intocontact with this abutment 111 and is thereupon moved about its pivotagainst the action of This movement of the lever re-.

its spring. leases the clutch 101103 and so-takes off the power drivingthe die shaft; The same movement of the lever causes the latch 104 to bewithdrawn from engagement with the with a longitudinal abutment 113arranged adjacent to the-die shaft, thus arresting the movement of thelatter.

The shape of this bolt is preferably such that when extended position itprevents the latch being returned by the spring 108 and so insures thegear wheel 95 remaining freeon the shaft. Rotation of the die shaftbeing thus arrested it will be appreciated that the screw threads nowformed on the rotating -work rod 3 will cause the die shaft to be movedbackward, automatically withdrawing the die from the work. In this backwd movement of the die shaft the extended olt'comes into contact with an,inclined laneor cam surface 114 and is thus forced ac'k into itsretracted position and the lever 99100 is moved over by its spring 108simultaneously locking the the die shaft. If desired the laststage ofthe backward movement. of the die shaft may be positively eflected'fromthe cam shaft in or- 'bolt and again clutching the gear wheel to thespring controlledvbolt back in its re- 'tracted position. It will 'beseen that the length of screwthreads cut on the work may be varied byaltering the position of the circular adjustable abutment 111 with whichthe projecting end of the lever comes into contact. The completedarticle'is cut off by a tool or tools carried in slides on the frame andoperated from the cam shaft.

What. I claim and desire to secure'by Let- I ters Patent is 1. Inamultiple spindlemachine the combination of an mtermittently-rotatedturret head, a plurality of steps therein, a lever pivoted to the frame,an adjustable nose on the lever having a reduced end serew threaded atits extremity, a split sleeve on the re-. duced portion, lugs on saidsplit sleeve, means engaging said lugs fpr clam ing the sleeve inposition and a nut on t e screw threaded extremity for thepurposespecified. f

- 2. A locking bolt having a split end, a screw threaded hole in thesplit end, and a screw having conical head fitting said holesubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. Thecombination of a bracket, a recess therein, an adjustablesupporthavinga projection situated in said recess, set screws in thebracket engaging on said projection, slots in said support, boltspassingthrough said slots engaging screw-threaded holes inthe bracket, aguideway in the support and a-reciprocatmg bolt in the said guidewaysubstantially as specified.

' .4. The combination of a hollow work carr f g spindle 'a reciprocatingfeed sleeve thfiem, slots in the sleeve, cam shaped grippingpiecespivoted in said slots projecting movable die shaft, means for rotatingit, a

mside the sleeve forward of their pivots in clutch connecting said meansto. the die the direction of feed and also projecting outshaft, a leverpivoted to the die shaft, an

side the sleeve behind their pivots'and a.

shoulder inside the spindle adapted to en,- gage said outwardlyrojecting parts of the grip ing pieces to re ease their grip on the worsubstantially as specified.

5. The combination of a longitudinally movable die shaft, means forrotating it, a

clutch connecting said means to the die shaft, a lever pivoted to thedie shaft, an abutment around the die shaft in the path of one end ofsaid lover as the die shalt moves longitudinally and a disengageableoperative connection between the lever and clutch for the purposespecified.

6. The combination of a longitudinally movable die shaft, means forrotating it, a clutch connecting said means to the die shaft, means foroperating said clutch, a longitudinal abutment parallel to the dieshaft,

a spring controlled bolt mounted radially in the die'shaft capable ofengagement with said abutment, means for holding said bolt against theaction of its spring clear of said abutment, means for releasing thebolt and means for moving it into its retracted positlon clear of theabutment for the purpose 0 specified.

-7..The combination of a longitudinally abutment around the ,die shaftin the path a ilong'itudinal abutment parallel to the die shaft, aspring controlled bolt mounted radially in thedie shalt capable ofengagement with said abutment, a sliding latch, a disengz'rgeableoperative connection between the bolt and latch enabling the latch tohold the bolt against the action of its spring clear of said abutment,an operative connection between the lever and the latch, a springtending to make. the connections of the lever "with the clutch and ofthe latch with the bolt operative when disengaged by contact of thelever with the abutment around the die shaft and an inclined surface onthe longitudinal abutment in the path of the rereleased bolt for thepurposes specified.

in testimony wlmreol' l. havesigned my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. I

GEORGE MELLIS.

Viitnesses:

' ARTHUR H. GREENWOOD,

LUTHER J. PARK.

